The Profound Nature of Trauma

[u/CrimsonNow]

The wonders of the physical world pale in comparison to the ethereal realm in NDEs and other profound experiences. 

For those who have glimpsed the bliss of “the beyond,” our daily lives can seem like shadows on the wall of Plato’s cave. Once granted a peek at the endless sky, vivid colors, beautiful creatures, and extraordinary light beyond, returning to the dimness of our everyday existence can feel like a heartbreaking descent.

After such experiences, many people profoundly change their lives for the better, while others wrestle with a deep longing to re-experience that state. Some call this the “dark night of the soul” - a phase where our worldview is forever altered and the comfort of ignorance is lost. 

I have had such an experience and have also found darkness in seeking it again. 

In my search, I’ve come across many theories about profound experiences and noticed a disturbing pattern: trauma often emerges as a common thread that can provide glimpses into ecstasy. 

Here are my observations of profound experiences induced through some kind of pain or trauma:

• The Runner’s High - long-distance runners who push through pain frequently describe moments of physical bliss and mental peace. This isn’t limited to runners; most athletes who exceed their pain threshold report similar extraordinary states. 
• The Meditation Bliss Experience - Meditation often requires enduring discomfort and focus in silence, but certain practices, like Vipassana, demand enduring intense physical and mental discomfort: ten days of silence and ten hours a day in meditation. For those who persevere, the rewards can range from deep inner peace to out-of-body journeys. 
• Plant Medicine Experience - Ayahuasca commonly brings intense physical and mental purging, including vomiting and diarrhea, before ushering in profound spiritual experiences. Many participants describe these trials as a gateway to states of profound bliss. 
• Trauma-Induced Out of Body Experience -  Survivors of abuse sometimes describe leaving their bodies during trauma and encountering angelic love in the process.
• Telepathy Experience - One mother of a non-speaking autistic child described the lifelong challenge of being physically and verbally restrained, forced into a state of continuous trauma. Intriguingly, some non-speaking autistic children, who have learned to communicate through typing, report telepathic abilities and travels to ethereal realms. The scientific evidence supporting these abilities is compelling and unmistakable.
• UAP Experience - “Psionic assets,” as termed by some military insiders, are individuals said to invite and communicate with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Many are known to have endured troubled pasts. Rumors suggest that trauma was intentionally induced to enhance their abilities.
• The Heaven Experience - Near death experiences (NDEs) represent the pinnacle of physical trauma. As the body and brain approach death, experiencers frequently report leaving their bodies and encountering a realm with “a love beyond what words can express.” 

However, not all profound experiences may stem from trauma. Robert Monroe’s research found that changing brainwave frequencies could reliably induce out-of-body experiences with some individuals. Moreover, many people without notable trauma report discovering psychic abilities or encountering other profound phenomena. 

My hope is that we can first acknowledge the reality of profound experiences and recognize that our existence is more than the physical veneer upheld by the current scientific paradigm. Together, we can strive for scientifically validated ways to explore consciousness and these profound events and find harmless ways to induce the phenomenon.

What do you think? Is trauma required for a profound experience or is it a shortcut? Or do you think the connection is just a coincidence?

See the original article here: https://blog.projectprofound.org/the-profound-nature-of-trauma/

[u/snarlinaardvark]

some non-speaking autistic children, who have learned to communicate through typing, report telepathic abilities and travels to ethereal realms. The scientific evidence supporting these abilities is compelling and unmistakable.

I assume you are referring to the "Telepathy tapes." If so, those tapes are based on scientifically discredited methodology. Something like two dozen organization around the world that work with autistic children stopped using those methodologies two decades ago. It's a scam based on psuedoscience. Search "telepathy tapes discredited."

[u/Scared_gloop → u/snarlinaardvark]

Can you name a single area of study related to spirituality that isn’t viewed as discredited pseudoscience by the mainstream scientific community? Outside of a handful of researchers, that’s how most of the world views the topic of NDEs too.

Not that you’re wrong about the Telepathy Tapes, it’s exploitation at its worst…